Though the players aren't fans of the super-team label, it's hard to argue they haven't lived up to it. The WNBA Finals will feature a battle of heavyweights in the No. 1 seed Las Vegas Aces (34-6) and No. 2 seed New York Liberty (32-7). The best-of-five series tips off on Sunday (3 p.m. ET on ABC).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 15: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Jonquel Jones #35 and Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty in the third quarter of the 2023 Commissioner's Cup Championship game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Liberty defeated the Aces 82-63.
The Liberty snuck into the playoffs last year as a No. 8 seed and nearly pulled off the upset. They became immediate title favorites when they traded for 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones, then added two-time champion and 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart and champion Courtney Vandersloot in free agency. But it’s been a varied effort depending on the need. Betnijah Laney averaged 17 ppg and Jones averaged 16.5 ppg. Jones is the leading rebounder and Vandersloot the leader in assists and steals .It’s fitting the two faces of the league will feature in a long-awaited Finals packed with talent. Stewart and Wilson are year-in, year-out MVP candidates, and this season was no different. Stewart won the 2023 trophy in a tight race with 13 points separating her and Wilson in third place.
Wilson didn’t have the help around her at the time that she does now. The Aces added Gray at point guard, Young improved her shot and Plum returned from an Achilles tear that kept her out that season.The production of star players is often equalized by the other, necessitating an X-factor to step up when attention is paid to the star. But on a super-team, is there such a thing as an X-factor?
Aces center Kiah Stokes will need to be an X-factor for the Aces. She is their defensive stopper, but is hesitant to shoot and defenses will often slack off of her. Her season-high is seven points three times, including the June win against the Liberty. In the other three regular-season games, she scored zero.Expect a forecast of 3-pointers. The Liberty and Aces lead the league in 3-pointers made per game and are similarly the best at hitting them, averaging 37%. New York averaged 12.
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